It’s often the little things that have outsized results—a small bug bite that causes you to scratch all night or a wart on the bottom of your foot that makes every step uncomfortable. In this blog post, we want to focus on this second condition — plantar warts.
While not all that serious medically, plantar warts can be a significant hassle. Our team of foot health experts at Neuhaus Foot and Ankle has seen its fair share of plantar warts, and we’ve learned a few things we want to share here, starting with whether they’re cause for concern.
The title of this blog asks whether plantar warts are cause for concern, and the answer is maybe, but mostly no. As we mentioned, medically speaking, plantar warts aren’t what we would consider serious, except under certain circumstances that we’ll get into in a minute.
Plantar warts stem from a human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and they form about 2-6 months after exposure.
HPV infections of this kind are incredibly common, and plantar warts affect about 10% of the general population and 10-20% of kids. The higher rates in kids are often due to passing the infection around in locker rooms and other damp places like pools.
While no one welcomes warts anywhere on their body, they can be particularly annoying when they develop on the soles of your feet, especially in areas where there’s plenty of pressure, such as on the balls or heels.
The location of these growths alone accounts for most of the hassle associated with this common condition — plantar warts can be uncomfortable to walk on.
Plantar warts mostly develop under your skin, and what you see is only the top portion. They develop singularly or in clusters that we call mosaic warts.
So, for the average person, plantar warts are no small hassle. However, for someone with more extensive lower limb concerns, such as diabetic neuropathy or peripheral artery disease, plantar warts should be treated as a potential danger, and you should seek treatment with us right away.
The good news is that no matter whether your plantar warts are a medical concern or just a matter of comfort or aesthetics, we can eliminate them.
There are several ways in which we approach plantar warts, including:
Clearly, we’re well-equipped to rid your feet of plantar warts, and we’re confident that we’ve got the right treatment for your needs.
To get on the road to wart-free feet, we invite you to contact one of our 18 locations in Tennessee to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled foot specialists.
